The Way of the Hermit
My 40 years in the Scottish wilderness
by Ken Smith
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Pub Date 29 Jun 2023 | Archive Date 29 Jun 2023
Pan Macmillan | Macmillan
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Description
'A Thoreauvian account of solitary life in the Scottish Highlands . . . delightful' - Kirkus Reviews
'Ken Smith’s advice for staying alive in inclement conditions could equally be applied to achieving hard-won dreams' – Geographical
'For anyone who feels they are merely going through the motions, this book will make an inspiring read' – BBC Countryfile Magazine
*****
Could you leave behind the bustle of modern society and spend your days immersed in nature? In The Way of the Hermit, seventy-four-year-old Ken Smith recounts a life he has chosen to spend alone with the wilderness.
Ken Smith has spent the past four decades in the Scottish Highlands. He lives alone, with no electricity or running water. His home is a log cabin nestled near Loch Treig, known as 'the lonely loch', where he lives off the land: he fishes for his supper, chops his own wood, and even brews his own tipple. He is, in the truest sense of the word, a hermit.
For the first time, Ken shares the story of his life. From his working-class origins in Derbyshire, to the formative years he spent travelling in the Yukon and finally how he came to be the Hermit of Loch Treig. Looking back through decades of diary entries, Ken reflects upon the reasons he turned his back on society, the vulnerability of old age and the awe and wonder of a life lived in nature. The Way of the Hermit is a humorous, transcendent and life-affirming memoir.
Available Editions
| EDITION | Other Format |
| ISBN | 9781035009817 |
| PRICE | £16.99 (GBP) |
| PAGES | 256 |
Available on NetGalley
Featured Reviews
Brenda C, Reviewer
The Way of the Hermit is the witty, fascinating and riveting autobiography about Ken Smith's experiences living at Loch Treig in the Scottish Highlands without running water or electricity for forty years. His reliance on the land, common sense and reading nature signs are learned and brilliant. He describes his life before Loch Treig including his childhood collecting bits of nature, spooky experiences, fascinating jobs, his horrendous industrial accident, Yukon and Northern Canadian adventures, dealing with deep grief, foraging for food, being attuned to nature sounds, log-pile management, wild animals, living with ticks (I have Lyme...you don't want it), neighbours and how he built his cabin.
Smith is deeply reflective and doesn't worry about the small stuff. His writing style is conversational and a pleasure to read. This book is also a bit of an insightful social commentary packed with wisdom and insight into human nature. One of the many ideas which stood out to me most is that it is not the hermit who is "weird" but rather living on-grid full of debt like sheep caving to the whims of the government. In his view being a hermit means choosing to meet people on his own terms and controlling his days as much as possible. Another profound description which resonated with me is living where you are meant to be, comfortable and at peace with indescribable well-being. I have had the fortune to discover such a place with a deep connection to a country other than where I was born and raised. The feeling is beyond description!
As a nature fiend, this book really connected with me on so many levels. Though not a "hermit", I am happiest fully immersed in nature and can understand Smith's passion for living the lifestyle and thereby learning multitudinous life lessons. His descriptions are stunning and his lifestyle while a hermit (he is now in his 70s) was clearly worth sacrifices and hard work, as all things worth pursuing are. The adventures he had! I'm thankful he wrote them so people such as me can enjoy them.
If you hanker for peace in all of its forms, do read this inspiring book with gorgeous wilderness descriptions and compelling anecdotes.
My sincere thank you to Pan Macmillan and NetGalley for providing me with an early digital copy of this wonderful, wonderful book.
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